5 Most Popular Spots for BASE Jumping

Built for the World's Fair in 1889, the Eiffel Tower is one of this planet's most iconic landmarks. BASE jumpers have launched themselves from the spiky edifice for years. Built by Gustave Eiffel, the tower rises 1,063 feet (324 meters) above Paris. It's almost twice as high as the Washington Monument. Supposedly, in 1912, a French inventor named Franz Reichelt made the first jump from the tower to test his new parachute invention. It didn't work [source: Wilson]. Since then, many people have jumped from the observation deck and landed safely -- or not. In 2005, a Norwegian man died while BASE jumping off the tower [source: Park].